"I don't see why I have to go." Alice stated for probably the tenth time as she sat in her room and continued to rub away foundation across her nose and cheekbones. Her father, a rugged man with a strong build, simply laughed as he continued going through her closet.

"Easy, because your mother wants you to," he answered as he started to furiously throw clothes out through the doorway on his search. Alice took the time to turn around from her vanity and spat, "Just what exactly are you looking for again?"

Her father reemerged from the closet with bundles of clothes under each arm as he smiled weakly, "Clyde ran out of his room today, probably looking for Lady, but I have to keep him out of the greenhouse for today."

"Why? Are the dahlias going to bloom today?" she asked as she turned in her chair and began to furiously rub away any trace of makeup on her face. Her father shrugged and said, "They probably will, with your mother if she's says rain will come, it will." Alice began dabbing her face with a towel as she looked at herself in the mirror.

Her father walked up behind her with a look of an elderly man but a young crooked smile across his face. "Look at my baby girl, growing up way too fast if you ask me!" he clamped his hands on her shoulders and shook her vigorously. Alice groaned loudly as her voice shook with her. Like when you talk through a fan. He ceased his movements with a laugh as her head started to sway from side to side.

He bent down to her level and placed his head on her shoulder as she steadied herself again and looked at themselves in the mirror. Alice crossed her eyes but soon began to focus on their similarity. Not once has anyone told her that she didn't look like her father. She was a spitting image of him. But with every similarity has to be difference.

They both may have had the same colored tangerine hair, but Alice's was more vibrant and noticeable, while her father's seemed to dull over the years with just a few grey hairs, almost unnoticeable, but still slightly luminous. Even his beard had a few stray of grey hairs making it look stringy but was soft and ticklish on the side of her face. Her father's look seemed distant in the mirror but was still full of life in those emerald shaded eyes. Alice's eyes were just a shade lighter than his, but they both had that mischievous look in them.

"Now why don't you want to go to your lessons today?" He finally asked. The girl sighed and answered with, "Because there really isn't any reason for me to go, I know the basics of the trade and negotiating terms." Her father sighed deeply as he bent his knees to stand, with various popping sounds coming from his body. He groaned as he rubbed his lower back. "Running a business takes a lot of learning and experience, and if you're going to be taking over a branch of the company you have to know what exactly you're supposed to do."

"But I know what to do in certain situations and how to handle them already," she groaned and slid off her chair dramatically and flopped on the floor, "mom is just giving me lessons just to keep me busy and out of the way." Her father narrowed his eyes at her, "You do have a knack for getting in trouble Alice." The red head sat up and said, "I wonder who I got it from," while throwing a look at him. He put his hands up in defense, "I never said I was a good role model." He made his way over to the door but stopped. "How about you hide out in the greenhouse, I think one day of no lesson can cause too much damage," he bargained. Alice stood from her spot, "Wouldn't Mom be there if the dahlias are going to bloom?"

He shook his head and said, "Not anytime soon since your grandmother is paying a visit today." They both shivered involuntarily. Her grandmother was a spiteful, bitter old woman and seemed to dislike anyone carrying the surname Porter. It was hard to believe Alice's mother came from such a woman. All she ever did was speak ill of them majority of the time. She never spoke to any of them unless they were in her presence. Any other time she would avoid them like they were the omen, but she stayed away from Alice's father as if he was the devil himself.

"The best thing for you is to hide out in the greenhouse for a few hours, think of it as helping me out for keeping Clyde away from it," he added as he walked out. Alice smiled and yelled, "Thanks Dad!"

She stood in her room wondering what she's was going to do next when a thought came to mind and screamed, "DID YOU REALLY JUST LEAVE MY ROOM WITH ALL THESE CLOTHES ON THE FLOOR?!"

/

"Has the connection been made?" someone asked impatiently and sounding rather irritable.

A cough and a wheeze answered in response.

"Good lord Nightmare! Watch where you turn your mouth! The last thing I need is to get sick before going to see Alice!"

Another hard cough was heard before a raspy voice responded, "Some help you are. It's not my fault I got sick from the last move! Damn winter…"

"So is the connection made or not!"

A pale hand waved in the air as a dim glow resonated around it. "There, your oh so precious connection has been made, don't ask me for anymore favors White."

White rabbit ears stood at attention as the man giggled audibly and nearly jittering in place. The rabbit eared man turned on his heel and ran but called over his shoulder saying, "I don't plan on coming to you for anymore favors!"

The man was so excited he could barely contain himself! His precious Alice would soon be reunited with him in Wonderland! Oh praise the heavens for bestowing such a wonderful gift to an unworthy man such as him! But in his case, he is better than all those filthy ill-mannered role holders who reside there. He nearly cringed at the thought of those barbarians even thinking about touching his Alice. He would have a gun in his hand and a bullet in their heads if they tried.

But he continued to smile as he ran, chanting her name as he went. "Alice! Alice! Alice!"

Silver tresses popped up from a bundle of blankets as a man with a black eye patch covering one of his eyes. He cleared his throat as he changed positions on the ground. Speckles of light from where his hand had made the connection flickered as he faced them. Well that's odd; they never stayed this long before. He waved his hand over them and they began to multiply to show a hazy image.

The man tried to focus on the image but still remained fuzzy. Must be the sickness, he thought. He narrowed his uncovered eye and the picture zoomed in on a noticeable spot of orange.

"Oh dear…" his tone had a nervous pitch in it but he soon began to laugh loudly. A nasty coughing fit soon coming after as he settled himself. "I think we'll be seeing each other sooner than you think White."

The blurry image showed the girl with orange hair covering herself with a blanket as she lied on the ground with flowers surrounding her.

A smile tugged at his lips as he thought.

"Alice Porter, huh."

/

Alice held her nose as she sneezed hard, almost knocking the wind out of her. She recovered from it, dropping herself back on the ground. She clutched the blanket around her body and snuggled closer into the softness. Despite the humid building that could make anyone sweat just from walking in, she was inconsiderably cold. The fans that roared overhead must have had something to do with it. Otherwise it would be completely normal. Her body temperature was always thrown out of whack.

She shivered as she wrapped her arms around her frame as she tried to get in a quick snooze. The girl dozed off lightly but a wet nose crashing into her ear immediately woke her up. She cursed loudly as she tried to push the beast away from eating her face. The creature continued its assault as its tongue familiarized itself with her face.

"Stop Lady! I can't breathe!"

The animal ceased its licking but started to sniff the girl. "I guess your bath ended then," Alice spoke as she scratched the dog's ears. She barked in agreement and started to pant. Running her fingers through the thick black coat, the dog dragged her body and proceeded to lie down at her feet. "Good girl, that's a good girl," Alice muttered almost sadly. Lady has been part of the family ever since Alice was little. That was sixteen years ago. According to research the Tibetan Mastiff only live between ten to fourteen years, but Lady somehow surpassed it. Her father said that she was bound to kick the bucket anytime. But she never showed any signs of it, just mostly lounging around the house and the occasional walk.

"You know you aren't supposed to be here, it's too hot and you'll start sweating again," Alice scolded the dog. Lady sat up and turned her wrinkly face to hers and whined. "No buts, Dad will get mad if he finds out you're getting dirty after just getting clean, now get a move on!" The girl nudged her foot on the animal's hind leg. Lady whined once more but dragged herself up. As she was starting to trot she stopped in the doorway of the greenhouse and sniffed the air, turning her head slightly to the right. A low growl erupted from her throat as she eyed the daisies.

"Go on girl! Before I run you out!" Alice threatened lightly, covering her head with the blanket. Lady barked once, waiting for some kind of response from the plant. Only receiving the continued hums of the fans above, Lady whined but went on her way.

Hearing the dogs last whined, Alice lied back on the soft soil, resuming her previous position and once again tried to get some sleep. Tugging the blanket over her head and crossing her arms, Alice finally dozed off.

Unbeknownst to the unconscious girl, a certain white rabbit in a waistcoat and slacks emerged from the daisies. Brushing his sleeves of unwanted dirt stains, it sighed irritably. Honestly, why must such a place have to be so uncomfortable and dirty? Then again, since when did Alice ever have a greenhouse? Or a dog for that matter? The greenhouse must have been added on. As for the dog, well, some people do seek companionship. Even from a mangy mutt, he thought. Wrinkling his pink nose in slight disgust, the rabbit straightened out its clothes and began walking around.

"…-ce"

"…-lice"

"….Alice."

"….Alice!"

Eyes fluttering open, a groan soon followed after as the girl rolled onto her stomach and rubbed her itchy eyes. "What is it?" she asked, her voice slightly hoarse from the slumber. "You are supposed to chase me!" an unfamiliar voice cried out. Wrapping the blanket against her, she tried her best to go back to her blissful nap. "I'll do it later Lady, right now I just want to sleep," Alice answered as she yawned and closed her eyes again, completely ignoring the fact that she was talking to an animal. A 'tsk' sound was heard as the voice insisted, "Now that won't do at all Alice."

A sudden boom and a slight hissing sound filled the girl's ears, similar to a sparkler going out. She peeked from under her blanket and gasped as she saw a pair of brown loafers. "What in the world?" just as she was about to toss her blanket to run she was faced with a red waistcoat and long legs running. Suddenly realizing she was thrown over a man's shoulder, she began to struggle, "Hey put me down!"

A hand gripped the back of her thigh as he laughed, "Not until we get there my dear!" Alice started muttering curses before thrashing around loudly, trying to knock the man off balance. He simply tugged on the tail end of the blanket which caused her head to jerk back. She groaned from the numbing pain of her neck as she tried, but failed, to get away. "I'm so glad you see things my way Alice!" the man chirped.

Your way my ass, Alice thought bitterly feeling more helpless by the second. Feeling her weight shift forward to try and sneak a glimpse from behind her and nearly choked on air. "SINCE WHEN DID WE HAVE A HOLE IN TH GREENHOUSE?!" Alice shrieked at the upcoming abyss they were approaching. "I wonder?" the man hummed before leaping into the chasm. Struggling once more with new motivation she successfully leapt out of his grasp but with her fingers only grazing the edge of the hole. Before shutting her eyes tightly and accepting her fate, a bitter thought came across her mind.

I just had to wake up from my nap.

/

Boom! And it's done! I swear I never updated this fast before (in my opinion this is pretty darn fast)

Okay to explain a few things about this chapter that may have been confusing to some readers (in no specific order):

1) The green house is about as big a two bedroom apartment, which is kind of big in some cases

2) Nightmare getting sick from the last move is saying that Wonderland is coming from April Fool's season, so the Jokers won't be showing up in this fic (yet)

3) It is summer where Alice is, so dahlias usually bloom during that time.

4) Tibetan Mastiffs are very large dogs that always need to be taken care of (I don't have one but they are so pretty) Lady's coat has a darker shade of tan

If there are any more questions feel free to pm me and I'll get to them as soon as I can.

Critique is welcome as well as any review

Now I'm going to go work on Guilty of All Charges and see what to do with it…